She was supposed to.

When the long night of blessings and congratulations finallyculminated in the award’s recipient taking the stage to explainherself, the ‘O’ Foundation’s VIP Award winner for 2010, PatriciaMcGill-Tillman, explained away her life’s triumphs by claiming shewas simply following orders. Through thick and thin, life anddeath, Tillman did only what God asked her to do.

“I’ve been through many storms. I’ve had many trials andtribulations, and the Lord taught me how to pray, how to trust Him,because that’s what I was supposed to do,” said Tillman, 68,hammering home a point she would make several times during heracceptance speech at the annual ‘O’ Foundation Banquet Thursdaynight.

Those trials and tribulations were fierce.

Tillman lost her father, Purtis Williams, in 1969. Her mother,Beulah, followed her husband in death in 1982. Her brother waskilled in a car accident in 1983. Her husband, George Tillman,passed away in 1990. Her daughter, Dedra Ann McGill, was murderedin 1991.

Those deaths occurred over 40-year span in which Tillman taughtcollege at Jackson State University, helped run and eventually tookover the family funeral service, Williams Mortuary, and traveledthe nation while researching and holding membership in a number ofeducation conference and organizations.

Throughout it all, she found the peace of mind to love others,especially when those in times of loss needed to bury a loved onebut couldn’t quite afford it.

“I have a lot of compassion for the people who come before mebecause none of them have gone through anything I have notexperienced myself,” Tillman said. “I have compassion because thatis what I’m supposed to do.”

Tillman told the banquet guests who had come to support her shedidn’t understand what was so renowned about her life.

“I feel everything in my life has been what’s supposed to happento me,” she said. “I have reflected on this occasion for the pasttwo months, and I don’t know what I’ve done that’s so significantother than to love you, and to love my fellow man.”

Love was enough.

Friends, family members and associates rotated to the podiumThursday night to heap praise and respect on Tillman, a mother, aneducator, an undertaker and an inspiration.

“I’m so pleased God has allowed me to stay in the light of PatTillman,” said Tillman’s daughter, Avril “Kizzy” McGill. “Proverbs31:18 says, ‘Her lamp does not go out.’ It burns on continuouslythrough the night.”

McGill called her mother a friend and confidant, speculating onher ethereal makeup.

“She may not be a woman at all. She is a composite portrait ofideal womanhood,” she said.

Family member Jennifer Howard also went to the Bible to findwords appropriate for Tillman, turning to Romans 13.

“I believe the scripture when it says honor is given to whomhonor is due,” she said. “I find her to be a motivator, someone whopushes me to realize the sky is not the limit.”

Dr. Vevelyn B. Foster, a retired professor and dean who workedwith Tillman at JSU, spoke about Tillman’s love for her clients andwillingness to help them, attributing that compassion to the olddays of Purtis Williams.

“There was not a lot of money in our community, but we allwanted our loved ones to have the honor and respect in death we hadfor them in life. Mr. Williams understood this,” Foster said. “Mr.Williams cared very much for people. Funeral homes played animportant role in small communities.”

Tillman understands this, too.

“Pat didn’t fall very far from the tree,” Foster said.